Advertising
For many years, Menards' television commercials featured free-lance announcer Ray Szmanda, who became a cult figure as "the Menards Guy." In the late 1990s, a young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda's absence. Recent commercials, however, feature Bo Landry in his place; although, a cartoon version of "the Menards Guy" still appears in Menards' print ads and in some in-store signs. The commercials end with the well-known jingle, "Save big money at Menards." During the Christmas shopping season the jingle changes to "Warm seasons greetings to you all from Menards!" as well as Spanish language commercials ending with "Garda mucho dinero en Menards!"
Menards commercials are also accompanied with banjo music played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. In reference to creating the musical piece, Shaw said, "I just started playing on it and they said, 'That's perfect; that's exactly what we need.' Took me a half an hour. I got $50 for a one-time fee, and I've had to listen to that commercial every day for 20 years." Spanish commercials are accompanied with a mariachi mix of the banjo accompaniment.
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